Coinbase Seeks Approval to Launch Stock Perpetual Futures for US Traders

Coinbase has submitted a filing with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission seeking approval to list perpetual futures contracts tied to individual US stocks, bringing a trading structure common in crypto markets to traditional equities. The filing, made through Coinbase Derivatives, would allow US traders continuous exposure to individual stocks without directly owning shares.

Unlike traditional futures contracts, perpetual futures don’t have an expiration date, allowing traders to hold positions indefinitely. The proposed contracts are classified by regulators as single-stock futures and remain under regulatory review.

Initial Rollout Could Cover Major Companies

According to reporting on the filing, Coinbase plans to initially offer these contracts on roughly 50 to 60 stocks, including well-known names like Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, and Nvidia.

Part of a Broader Regulatory Push

This filing follows an earlier step taken by Coinbase Derivatives earlier in the month, when the company registered with securities regulators to operate as a national securities exchange specifically for offering security futures products.

Expanding an Existing International Product

Coinbase already offers similar stock perpetual futures to traders outside the United States, having launched the product internationally earlier this year with contracts tracking major US stocks and indexes. At the time, the company noted the product wasn’t available to US-based traders but indicated plans to expand its reach over time.

If approved, this would mark a significant expansion of Coinbase’s derivatives offerings into traditional equity markets, further blurring the line between crypto native trading products and conventional stock market instruments.